The Lost Queen

This is the project that never was. It exists only in my imaginary life where all my creations live and breathe and prosper.

This piece would have been the Queen of Multi-tasking, a divider of rooms, headboard and walk in closet.

First, my inspiration piece. This side pictured is the closet, drawers and shelving system, on the back-side of this rests a bed, fastened to the sides. I loved the concept but wanted to really make it mine.

If I could have it my way my piece would look a little less Urban Barn, a little more Commute Home.

Side A: The Sleepy Side of life. Wood panelling for a headboard with hidden drawers on his and her side, tucked within the panelling.

Side B: The Dressy Side of life. A three tiered storage system for clothes and accessories.

1) One solid panel made of either black steel as in Commute Home, or walnut, on a sliding mechanism. Behind this panel, shelving just like 2)

2) Open shelving only. When 1) slides to the right, it goes over top 2)

3) Six drawers disguised as wood panelling (matches headboard on Side A.)

The wood panelling would look a little like this:

The effect would be that upon entering the bedroom you walk into a dressing area, with my full length closets to the left, and this storage system to the right (Side B.) It would sit where the red bench is pictured now.

The height of the storage is such that you can still look over it towards the windows, but still high enough that it really feels like a partitioned dressing area.

Turn the corner, and you have the bed up against Side A, facing the windows.

The only potential downside to this fabulous Multi-tasking Queen of a piece is that although she's pretty, she's heavy. I'm afraid this Queen would fall under the weight of the clothes and the bed pushing up against her. It would only work if the bed could be fastened to provide stability, and take off some of the weight from the storage.

So, just for fun I took the designs of this Queen of mine to Commute Home to get it priced. The cost? A measly $14,000.

Too bad my budget isn't fit for a Queen.

Good Food Moment #89: Dinah and the Amandine

Tucked away in a quiet corner of Val David, one hour north of Montreal is a scrumptious artisan bakery called La Vagabonde. Family run and 100% certified organic, a single bite and I fell deeply in love with their chocolate amandine. I sat happily basking in the sun, savoring my treat while watching the family kitten whom I named Dinah.

Good Find #38: Unexpected Light

I'd like to believe that Emmanuel Cognee and I are kindred spirits. That or we've met in a past life, I can't be certain. But I will point to my post entitled "Lamp Made of Sticks" as proof (see Random Creations.) Coming across one of Emmanuel's pieces is like creeping up on a creature that's part electronic and lights up when touched. I picture these lamps coming alive at night, crawling the walls in search of batteries to eat. I want a family of them. I'll name them Zoe, Beatrice and Zachery. Click here to take home a creature of your very own to love.

Good Clean Fun- by Liana

One of my older paintings I made in the Philippines. Again, inspired by Robert Rauschenbeg. Tasty display of the grim, colorful times of wreck-less night outs.

Mixed media on canvas (3 ft x 4 ft): acrylic, cork, lace, cardboard, aluminum, plastic.

Good Find #44: Bird in my hair

(Pictured above: my happy self in a pair of Coral Flicker, Owlita designs)

I was on the way to the craft store one cold wet day in hopes to find feathers in natural and neon colors. I wanted to make a large earring of long soft feathers that flow into my hair. Just before leaving, I googled to see if there were any inspiration pieces out there already.. low and behold I stumbled across feather creations made by Ashley- an Oregon raised artist who brands her pieces Owlita. Such pieces were first inspired by Ashley's encounter with an owl that resided in her backyard. I currently have pigeon residing on the top of my chimney whose cooing echos into my living room as I type this - perhaps this is what inspired me in the first place. But for now, I continue to be in awe of Owlita's whimsical and charming designs.

Good Feet Moment #112: Toe Shoes

For years I danced ballet, and for years have secretly mourned the decision to stop. My silver sandals pictured here on a surprise visit to the National Ballet of Canada where I relished in the world premier of Aszure Bartons's "Watch Her." I could hardly breathe while watching it was just too painfully beautiful. The dancers were impeccable, not a finger out of place, the costumes reminded me of Prada in New York City, and every move was drenched in fantastic emotion. This choreographer is definitely one to follow, admire, obsess over.

Good Find #25: A + J + Glass + Ceramic = pretty

The perfect combination from a duo of artists: one part glass, one part ceramic = A+J Creations. I chanced upon this artist at the Interior Design Show Montreal and immediately wanted the entire collection. The mortar and pestle pieces are the perfect example of their winning combination. Pictured here, this piece started as a simple white ceramic vase, add a drop of glass on top to cover the opening and it goes from practical vase to showcase.

Good Food Moment #71: Mystery Fruit, March 2009

It was a common cold rainy morning when I found fruit in my path to work. Two separate days, same canal edge, different fruit. Someone else's good food moment. Any city, like Amsterdam, can surprise you if your eyes are open to it.  

Good Food Moment #154?: Sprouts for breakfast?

Q got this from the St. Lawrence Market today. I am reluctant to touch it. He tells me it's Arugula sprouts and you're meant to trim off the tops, throw them into your salad and enjoy. I tell him we have a chia-pet growing in our fridge. What do you think?

Good Find #27: Wind beneath me

French artist Emilie Faif makes beautiful mixed media installations. Her "paysage" puts me in that lightened state that comes and goes throughout the day. My favorite part is when the fabric slowly looses itself as the air turns off- proving their interdependence. 

Fine, don't buy me!

I originally posted this basket table for sale on Craigslist because I couldn't stand the sight of it anymore. I was asking for a measly $30 and it just wouldn't go! So what the heck I moved it with me, slapped on a coat of white paint and now I can stand it again. I'm quite happy with it actually.

Turning Junk into White Gold

Got this old solid wood cabinet delivered to me off Craigslist for $35 (including delivery charge.) It came from an uber paranoid couple who were frantically leaving Toronto to escape the inevitable plague that would be H1N1. They left for a safe place they wished not to divulge. For some reason I picture the witch's house in Hansel and Gretel in the middle of a deep forest. But back to my story. A fresh coat of white paint makes almost anything look sparkly and new. Because this cabinet had vintage bones it still comes across as second hand, but now in a Queen West art gallery sort of way.

Sand paper, bonding primer, semi-gloss white acrylic and two hours of elbow grease.

My Favorite Little Wall

As a teenager I would plaster my walls obsessively and in no apparent order with magazine clip-outs: impossibly gorgeous women in designer labels and Absolut vodka ads. So 90's fabulous. Today my little wall collage takes on a more nostalgic feel. It's a collage within a collage: old records from my father, photo collages of my love, another of me made by my mother when I was four. My favorite picture, coincidentally at the center of it all is of my parents when they first met.

Good Find #87: Missed Connections NY

Ever been on the missed connections section on Craigslist? This illustration artist named Sophie Blackall was instantly inspired when she stumbled onto this section one day and has since created a pretty little blog about it. Best enjoyed over coffee and iTunes.

Gold Improv

Sweden meets Philippines. Most times I'll buy accessories from top designers to cheap finds thinking that I can combine it with another piece hidden and tucked away in one of my dresser drawers. Here, a gold feather necklace (EUR 2.95 from H&M) holding up a one of a kind jô by Joyce Oreña (Greenbelt 3, Makati, Philippines) rope bracelet with gold plated accents. 

                              

Good Feet Moment #4: The Girl with the Golden Gun

On our way to James Bond Island from Phuket, Thailand. I've always secretly wanted to be a spy. Any recruiters reading this blog, feel free to contact me- however, I insist on a  double entendre name.

2002, Just A Girl -by Liana

Mixed media on canvas.

One of my older and larger (aprox.5 ft x 4 ft) paintings inspired by the great Robert Rauschenberg. His art and vision strengthened my love for mixed media. Plastic bags, stockings, saw dust and tissue found here.

"You begin with the possibilities of the material" -Robert Raschenberg

Good Food Moment #89: Les Glaceurs, July 2009

Quick visit to Montreal must include a walk through its Old Port where Les Glaceurs sells the cutest little cupcakes that make you reconsider scoffing it down. Best shared with friends on a cool summer days while walking and catching up.

Dec. 2008, Titan -by Roxy

It took me around three months to finish this painting. It originally started as a joint venture with Liana. We walked along a beach in Thailand and collected odds and ends spat up by the sea. When Liana threw in a rusty bottle cap I thought she was crazy, but it's now my favorite piece. I call him Titan.

Mixed media from the sea, acrylic on canvas.

Good Food Moment #72, 85, 322...: Ossington

There are so many little gems on Ossington between Queen and Dundas I could spend days just hopping from one place to the next depending on the time of day/night. My perfect Ossingtonesque weekend would look a little like this:

Friday night dinner at Pizzeria Libretto as pictured, followed by Mango Margaritas at Reposado. The jazz/blues band would be playing on Fridays and they make you want to sing unabashedly along to Sinatra. Saturday brunch at Lakeview with an order of Lemon Ricotta French toast. Shopping at Jonathan and Olivia and a walk down Queen street furniture store hopping, afternoon coffee with Peter of the Communal Mule, back down to Ossington for drinks at the bar and later dinner at Union. I'd then quite simply spend all day Sunday lounging at the Trinity Bellwoods park eating Natas from a nearby Portuguese bakery. *sigh*